TWO COMPANIES FINED $50,000 FOR COVEYOR BELT ARM INJURY
In 2018 a worker suffered a dislocated elbow, nerve crushing and damage from his bicep to his fingers when his arm became caught at a brick manufacturing company PGH’s Thomastown facility.
The worker was investigating a problem when his right arm became trapped between a conveyor belt and power drum. Another worker, who heard the man's cry for help, activated an emergency stop button in response.
Sentenced on Wednesday for failing to provide plant that was safe and without risks to health, PGH was convicted and fined $40,000.
Bricks Australia Services Pty Ltd, which employs staff that worked at the PGH facility, earlier pleaded guilty to a single charge of failing to provide necessary information or instructions to enable its employers to perform their work safely.
It was fined $10,000 without conviction and ordered to pay costs of $3,140.
The court heard it was reasonably practicable for PGH to affix guarding to the head drum and for BAS to ensure that workers received necessary information and instruction in relation to the risk posed by the plant.
"Tragically, this worker's life-altering injuries could have been avoided if appropriate safety measures were put in place," WorkSafe said.
"There is no excuse for duty holders who fail to implement guarding around known danger areas, or who fail to provide their staff with the training they need to perform tasks safely."
Read more from WorkSafe’s News webpage, here.